Five Swimmers Named as NAIA All-Americans

Five members of the Brenau swimming team received All-American status for their performances at the 38th Annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Swimming and Diving National Championships, the national office announced on Thursday.

The NAIA recognized the top-eight finishers in each individual event and to the swimmers of the top-eight finishing relay teams at the National Championships held March 1-4 at the Columbus Aquatic Center.

Nikoletta Alvanou, Maggie Davis, Lindsay Dowling, Ella Kleinschmidt and Yanne Toussaint secured 2018 NAIA All-American status for their performances.

Dowling led the Golden Tigers with two individual All-American nods as the Winston, Ga. junior placed second in the 100 Backstroke and fifth in the 200 Backstroke.

Teammate Ella Kleinschmidt placed fifth in the 1650 Freestyle to earn All-American status, while Nikoletta Alvanou was sixth in the 400 Individual Medley and Maggie Davis placed seventh in the 200 Butterfly.

In the relay events, Yanne Toussaint joined Alvanou, Davis and Kleinschmidt as All-Americans with an eighth place finish in the 800 Freestyle Relay, while Dowling, Davis, Kleinschmidt and Toussaint also secured All-American status with an eighth place finish in the 400 Medley Relay.

This year's All-Americans are a special group of women that worked hard and made sacrifices to earn their titles," said head coach Nate Rhoads. "They do a great job of representing both our swim team and the University. I'm proud of these student-athletes, and appreciate the NAIA for recognizing their achievements."